The main cast of protagonists in the original Star Wars trilogy consists of three humans, two robots, and one alien. It has the feel of a good D&D party. That one alien stands out. He's the muscle of the group, a towering bear/dog man who speaks only in gruff roars and fights like a monster. Chewbacca introduced the world to the Wookiees, a charming race of furry friends.
One of the most impressive feats of the early Star Wars franchise is its ability to make every living being feel like a full-fledged character. Whether they're a central party member or an unnamed stranger in a bar, fans want to know everything about them. For better or worse, they can access that information today. Every fan has an encyclopedia of information about every character, planet, conflict, and species in the galaxy.
What are Wookiees?
Wookiees are large furry humanoids who are renowned for their immense physical strength. Their fur is usually brown, gray, black, or white. They weigh between 200 and 350 pounds on average. They are an intelligent species capable of understanding common languages, but their unique vocal structure renders them incapable of speech. They communicate through roars and grunts that can be understood by a trained ear. The Wookiee language is called Shyriiwook, and it's notoriously difficult for humans to speak. Wookiees naturally live very long lives, with an average span of more than four times that of human beings. Collective noun fans will be excited to learn that the correct term is a grove of Wookiees.
Wookiees have distinct personalities, but they're known for their short temper. Those who have befriended a Wookiee can recognize their sophisticated traits, but an uninitiated observer might see them as a dangerous animal. Wookiees frequently fly into a rage when fighting or when losing a competition. For some reason, the go-to attack for an enraged Wookiee is ripping off the arms of their target. Wookiees have large claws, but their internal code of honor forbids them from using those natural weapons for violence. They use their claws to climb, which comes in handy because they live in trees. Wookiees are known for their crafting skills, frequently blending space-age technology like lightsabers with wood and stones. They're also somewhat spiritual people, venerating the trees of their home planet as the true owners of the land and asking for their wisdom before every conflict. Force-sensitive Wookiees are rare but possible.
Where are the Wookiees from?
Wookiees hail from the forest planet Kashyyyk. Wookiees evolved on Kashyyyk thousands of years before the events of the Star Wars franchise. They were first discovered by an arms manufacturer called the Czerka Corporation. The Wookiees of Kashyyyk have been enslaved several times. The Czerka Corporation started the trend. Kashyyyk became a member of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars, but the planet fell to slavery again as the Empire rose. Around 56 million Wookiees live on Kashyyyk, governed by the Wookiee council. Their society sprawls across structures in the trees. Kashyyyk is dangerous in almost every way. The flora and fauna are overgrown and frequently carnivorous. The Empire saw much of the planet deforested, drained, and mined for resources, but it's regrowing well in the era of the New Republic. The post-Empire surface of Kashyyyk was littered with the destroyed war machines of the Imperial army. Kashyyyk is as beautiful as it is hostile. It's been through a lot, but the locals always kept their spirit.
Wookiees in the Galaxy
Despite their troubles, the Wookiees have always been on the right side of history. Wookiees were fiercely loyal soldiers of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. Jedi Master Yoda was on Kashyyyk when Order 66 was activated. The Wookiees had just finished defending their home from the Separatists' droid army when their former allies turned against them. Chewbacca and fellow Wookiee freedom fighter, Tarfful helped Yoda escape Order 66 and continued to battle the Empire for its entire regime. The Empire enslaved Wookiees to work in spice mines and labor camps across the galaxy, but violent uprisings were common. Chewbacca later became a hero of the Rebellion. With the help of his best friend, Han Solo, Chewie freed his people from the Empire. They still suffered attacks, but life on Kashyyyk returned to normal in the New Republic Era.
Wookiees are a proud race of skilled hunters, mechanics, and artisans who are often unfairly summarized as brutish monsters. They've been mistreated by massive corporations and all-consuming government regimes, but they always manage to be on the right side of the fight. There's a lot of Wookiee culture and history that the franchise hasn't shown off yet, but there's enough to get a complete picture. The Wookiees are one of the most enjoyably simple species in the Star Wars canon. Sometimes big, strong, and furry is all a group needs to become lovable.